24 -=Making a deal=-

Time passed, and 1 week after that day, Kaede finally got used to her new skills, for the first time since she got Shukaku she managed to empty almost every ounce of chakra she had while training.

Today was just another day, nothing especial happened until now, but Kaede had a self imposed mission to do, she had a certain person to find.

'He must be with his supposed 'team' right now, after that he will go find the suna idiots and do his thing...'

Kaede thought as she made her way towards the place Orochimaru was at, in the middle of Konoha... or maybe it was a clone but still, this village is disappointing sometimes...

Kaede found the snakeman hiding in a dark place, between two houses... really strange

She stared at his hiding spot until she saw his eye looking at her, then she moved to one of the training grounds close by.

"Fufufu, did you think about my proposal?" Orochimaru's voice was heard by Kaede, but he didn't reveal himself, purely out of caution with Hiruzen's spying jutsu

"I refuse working for you, but I have a deal offer to you..." Kaede said, she took one week to find Orochimaru just because she was learning her new skills, now she isn't afraid of him, she has 100% chance of running away from him, and on the worst possibility, she can fight with him unless he goes all out.

"... And what would that deal be?" Orochimaru asked, if someone saw the frowning expression he has right now, that person would find it extremely creepy

"I know about your plan" Kaede said

Orochimaru had a really bad expression right now, if it was anyone else he would have already killed the person, but he decided to wait for what Kaede was going to do

"And I want to participate in it" Kaede said

"...What?" Orochimaru asked, feigning confusion trying to get more information by doing that

"I am going to be honest, I will defect from this shitty village after the exam, and your invasion gave me the right opportunity to do so.

Wait for me and Gaara to be facing each other on the final and then start your plan, I can guarantee to you that, although I don't think the village will be completely destroyed, it won't be unharmed either" Kaede said

"...Kukuku... you are really interesting, Uchiha Kaede... I don't know how you discovered my plan, but I don't care about that.

I accept your 'deal', don't disappoint me..." Orochimaru said and 'went away', but in fact he only tries his best to hide his presence and chakra

But unfortunately for him, No chakra can escape Kaede's [Jogan] tracking ability and no presence can escape the instinct of a [Natural Predator].

"That went better than I expected, now I only need to wait two more weeks before I can find 'that'" Kaede said to herself before she flickered away

'Huum, it seems she isn't lying about her defection plan, bit what is 'that'? what could have so much importance to you, Kaede?' Orochimaru questioned himself as he dissolved into snakes, going after the Kazekage next.

-=-

Kaede mad her way towards the center of Konoha

'Damn it, that FUCKING SNAKE had to make weird faces that creeped me out! I know he can't possibly know that I was seeing him with my [Jogan] but still...

I need a break, I will go to the hot spring to relax a bit..."

Moving to the hot spring, Kaede actually found Hinata wandering aimlessly around

"yo, Hinata"

Kaede greeted

"..." Hinata didn't seem to even hear her, to someone to be so lost in thoughts is a little strange

"*Breathes in* HINATA!" Screaming right by Hinata's side, Kaede finally got a reaction out of her

"...Ah! Who?" Hinata jumped in fright and begun to look around frantically

"K-Kaede? Why did you do that!?" Hinata asked with a pout, making her very cute at the moment

'Ho? She actually answered me straight and showed dissatisfaction? It seems that she grew up in just less than a month, that seems promising!' Kaede thought

"You are the one that didn't answer me when I greeted you! you brought this upon yourself!" Kaede answered with a pout of her own

"Ah? I did? Sorry... I was thinking about something..." Hinata apologized, but different from her previous self, she didn't stutter and lowered her voice to inaudible levels out of shame

"... Was it Naruto?" Kaede asked with a smirk

"Wha-what? No it wasn't! Why did you even think of that!?" Hinata stomped her feet at the ground, trying to hide her embarrassment

"Why? you are always muttering 'Naruto-kun this, Naruto-kun that' and think no one noticed? I seriously thought you two were dating or something..."

"Ehhh... I... No, that isn't true! I didn't do that!" Hinata argued back

"Yes you did, more than once... daily" Kaede teased

"Mou, stop that Kaede... that's embarrassing..." Hinata said

"But you aren't denying it~" Kaede teased again

"And what about you?" Hinata tried to change the topic

"Me what?" Kaede asked

"Everyone says that you and Sasuke are together, is that true?" Hinata asked, curious

"Me? and Sasuke? Hahaha good joke!" Kaede laughed, now understanding what Lee did before

"So it isn't true? Aww... Do you like someone?" Hinata askes, trying to keep the conversation going

You have to understand that even though they were in the same class for years, Hinata wasn't very talkative back then, and Kaede wasn't either, but for different reasons.

"Someone I like?... no one comes to mind..." Kaede thought about it, but didn't find anyone

"Eh? Really? What kind of guy do you like then?" Hinata asked enthusiastically, I guess gossip is motivation for any girl, even the shy ones (Biased joke, don't take it seriously)

"Guy? But I like girls though..."

"Whaa?" Hinata exclaimed surprised

"... maybe my type is like Hinata-chaan~" Kaede said with a teasing smirk

"Please be serious Kaede!" Hinata once again pouted to hide her embarrassed expression

'Hehehe, it is so fun to tease her, I like this new Hinata, maybe I should compensate the eye I stole later, She definitely deserves it!'